Method and apparatus for producing colored projected pictures



Aug. 14, 1928.

W. L. ISBILLS METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING COLORED PROJECTED PICTURES Filed June 13 1925 I 2 Sheets-Sheet INVENTOR William L Isbdls Aug. 14,1928 v w. 1.. ISBILLS METHOD AND'APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING COLORED PROJECTED PICTURES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 15, 1923 INVENTOR I l/a'llzam LlZz'Z-Zs ATTORNEYS I heme, neg. .14, 192a UNI-TED STA T Es' PAT-ENT- OFFICE,

mnmrr'n. lemurs or nmzemsriz, mew mew.

men AND musics roe rnonucme coroner rn'omornn rrc'rortrs.

' Application area :m' is, 1928. Serial mi. esosi'. I

This invention relates to projecting up substantial relative position of the 33v.

'paratus of various kinds and classes, for exam Is stereoptieon macl'lines of various kinds an classes and'moving picture {promoting 6 machines, and particularly to a methodand apparatus whereby photographic pictures on films or slides or other translucent pictures as usually produced and-which are, normally projected in black and white onto a screen, '10 may be projected in pleasing. color efiects or whereln-theimage 1s projeeted in.'var1egated colors; and 'the object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of simple construction and operation by means of rvhlch 111" .(im rove'dmethod of producing ro ected ore pictures may-be. carried mto efiect,

either by the projection of lantern slides, in-- dependent pictures or the. like or in projecting motion pictures from d film of the usual construction; a further object being to utilize the colored lights reflected or radiating from an illuminating device for example, an electric light bulb .in con unction with ad ustable lenses for producing colors in the subject of a'projected picture; a "further object being to rovide means interposed" between the illumuu 'ting device and the film or other object to be pr'ogected; or between the illuminoting deviceand the picture as progccted on the screen, with means for concentrating the reflecting or emanating colored lights of the illuminating device tot. predetermined area; and'I also may provide means for Intermittently interrupting said colored light rays to distrlbutcth same in such manner that the icture or other subject to be projected Wlll have a leasing color effect or produce a vancolored image; and with these and other objects in 'view, the invention consists in the method and apgaratus for accomplishm projected colore pictures-as above set 011% in a simple, practical'and economical mau ner.

The invention is fully disclosed in the fol,- loiving f cification, of which the accompanying rowing forms apart, in which the separate dparts of my improvement are designate h suitable reference characters each of t e views, and in which':- Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic sectional View through one form'ofmy apparatus showing the eral units employed.

2 is a partial section on the line 2+2 0f 1g. 1.

Fig. 3 is a of Fig. 1.

gig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. lbut showi11 'a modified form of'apparatus. v 1g. 5 1s a, view; similar to Fig. 2 but showing only a gart ofthe construction an showing a modi cation: and,

Fi 6 is 'a view similar to Figs. 1 and 4 and s lowing another modification. In Fig. 1 .of the drawing I have diagrammatlcally illustrated a com lete ap aratus, by means of which lantern ides, individual pictures and the like may be pro'ected, as well as motion pictures, and in sai figure I have also illustrated a number of units, one or more of which may be operated in carry-. ing my invention and improved method into eifect or. for producing a 'rcdeterrnined result in different ways, and in said have shown at 10 the cabinet of a projecting up aratus in which is mounted areflectorll an a "socket 12 for an electric light bulb 13. In the construction shown in Fig. 1' the given socket is mounted to rotate or to be a rotary, oscillatory movement b a. rack 14 on a s ring-controlled push re 15 and a gear 1 whlch meshes with the rack 14: Intbis construction; the socket 12 is provided circuit to the lamp 13 may be closed through circuit wires2l and 22. By rotating or imarti-ng a rotary, oscillatory movement to the ulb 1 ,the filament 13' thereofis correspondingly moved, whereby the color lights refiected' or emanating from said filament may hcfldistribnted or interrupted in a given a 1. I a P Extending from the cabinet or casin 10 is a tubing 23in. the inner end of \vhic is mounted condensin lenses 24 adjacent to which is a lantern S 'de holder 25, and out wardlyof the lantern slide holder is an adjustable'iris26. Mounted in the tubing 23 in' juxtaposition to the" iris 26 is a fimnelshaped condensing member 27.

. partialsectlonon the line 3-3 with two annular contact surfaces 17 and 18 in connection with which spring -contacts l9 and 20 are adapted to operate, whereby the Adjustably mounted in the tube 23 are two sleeves 28 and 29, which carry projecting lenses 30 and 31, and the lenses 30 and 31 are of such construction and are so adjustably mounted as to project a picture,

laced in the slide holder 25, onto a screen in a right side up position regardless of whether the pictureis in erect or inverted position in the slide holder. V Thetubc 23 is mounted on supporting members 32, one of which is shown in section in Fig. 3 of the drawing, and these members are adjustable vertically to a slight extent on standards 33, the adjustment being accomplished bv eccentrics 34 mounted on shafts 35 having milled heads 36 at one end, and upper and lower guide pins 37 are also employed for this purpose.

Mounted in juxtaposition to and in front of the free end portion of the tube 23 is an interrupter element 38 which in the construction shown in Fig. 1 is in the form of a tubular casing 39 provided at one end with an integral plate 40 perforated as partially indicated at 41 in Fig. 2 of the drawing and a detachable and adjustable disk 42 having similar perforations is mounted in the other end portion of the casing 39. The entire unit, involving the casing 39, plate 40 and disk 42 is mounted on a shaft 43 supported in a frame 44, and said shaft is provided with two beveled pinion's 45 adapted to mesh with a beveled gear 46 operated by a crank 47. The frame 44 serves to support the element 38 including all of its 0 rative parts as well -as a tube 48, and said rame is mounted to. move verticall in slide members 49 and is moved into different positions of adjustment by a cam or eccentric member 50 mounted on a shaft 51 as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawing.

At 52 in Fig. 1 of the drawing, I have indicated the projecting lenses of a moving picture projecting machine, and at 53, the film which passes between guide rollers 54, which are adapted to lock the film between the tube 48 and the tubular casing 55 in which the projecting lenses 52 are mounted.

As above described, the machine diagrammatically illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawing may be used for projecting motion pictures or pictures from a motion picture film as well as lantern slides or other individual pictures, but in said figure I have shown a motion picture film in place, and when the apparatus is in use, the light from the bulb 13 including the color lights from the filament 13 of said bulb are first passed through the condensing lenses 24. then through the iris 26, which may be adjusted into any desired position, then through the funnel-shaped condenser 27, through the projecting lenses 30 and 31 whereinthe color of the light is intensified by the color values of the lenses; then through-the interrupter element 38, the disks 40 and 42 of which are rotated through the mechanism involving the crank 47, thus through the motion picture film and onto a screen through the projecting lenses 52.

In the above described operation, the iris and funnel-shaped condenser serve to collect the color lights and concentrate them to a predetermined area of the projecting lenses 30'and 31, and these colors, which through experience I find are every imaginable color of the rainbow and which also come from the lenses, are then passed through the interrupter element or through the small apertures or openings 41 in the disk 42 thereof, and in rotating this element the color lights are broken up and mingled in such manner that they are distributed onto the film in such a way that the film or the subject matter thereof appears to pick u or collects the colors which are transmitted to the image on the screen.

With the construction shown in Fig. 1, I may accomplish a similar result .by eliminating the interrupter element 38 and by rotating or imparting a rotary, oscillatory movement to the bulb 13 or the said interrupter element may also be employed if desired, but

from experience I find that either 'or both of these devices will accomplish substantially the same result.

In Fig. 5 of the drawing I have shown a modification of the plate or disk 40 wherein said disk is interrupted by elongated and radial apertures 40 instead of the diamondshaped apertures 41 shown in Fig.. 2 of the drawing, and if desired this construction may also be employed in the disk 42, but as a matter of fact any means or method of perforating the disks 40 and 42 may be employed so long as the light passed therethrough is intermittently interrupted and this may be accomplished in many ways, as will be apparent.

In Fig. 4 of the drawing, I have shown .a slight modification in which a fixed electric lam bulb 13 is mounted in the casing 10 and t 1e condensing lenses 24 are omitted from the tube 23 as well as the lantern slide holder 25, and in this figure I have substituted for the interrupter element 38 a modified form of interrupter element 56 comprising a rotatable casing 57 mounted on a shaft 58 driven and rotated through the crank 59 of a motion. picture machine 60, through gears 61 mounted on the shaft of the crank 59 and on a supplemental shaft 62, and by three transmis ion gears 63 which couple the shaft 62 with the shaft 58. Mounted in the casing 57 is a stationary or integral disk 64 similar to the disk 40 and an adjustable and detachable disk 65 similar to the disk 42, and in this construction I also employ lit) the interrupter, an annular chamber 66 through which the light projected from the lenses 30 and 31 passes, and this construction operates to concentrate the light to a predetermined area as it passes through the interrupter. 'Mounted in connection with the pro ecting machine is a tube 67 which cooperates with the disk to transmit the light directly to the film in the pro ect ng machine 60, and through the projecting lenses thereof.

\Vith the construction shown in Fig. 4 of the drawing, it will also be noted that I have eliminated the reflector 11 from the casing 10, and I have found in practice that the use of this reflector is not absolutely necessary, and in use the light from the lamp bulb 13 18 passed through the funnel-shaped condenser 27, thus through the pro ecting lenses 30 and 31 in which the rays are mtensified and the color values increased or magnified materially, especially by the added color values of the lenses themselves; through the disks 64 and 65 and the chamber 66 in the interrupter 56, through the tube 67 and thus through the film and mov ng picture ,machine onto the screen, and sub stantially the same results will be obtained as described in connection with the use of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1- of the drawing. In other words, .the various sub ects on the picture of the film will be reproduced in colors by the colors in the light radiating from the filament 13' of the electric bulb 13 as well as from the lenses 30 and 31 in the transmission of light therebetween from said filament. It will be understood that I may add to-the apparatus shown in Fig. 4 any one or more 0 the elements shown in Fig. 1 if desired, and the light bulb 13 may be rotated or oscillated as shown in Fig. 1.

In Fig. 6 of the drawing, I have shown another modification which is of the same general structure as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawing, except that the interrupter 38 has been omitted and in this construction, the electric light 13 or the socket 12 thereof is rotated directly through the crank 59 of the motion picture machine 60, and in the accompanying drawing this is accomplished by a belt 68 passed around a pulley 69 on the shaft on the crank 59, and around another ulley 70 mounted on a shaft 71 in the easin 10,-and by gears 71 and socket 12, apart e'f the gear on the socket 12 being indicated at 72 in said fi re. It will be noted on a consideration 0 Fig. 6 of the drawing that the electric light bulb, by providing suitable means for concentratin the li ht to a given or restricted path, an it wil be apparent that I am not limited to any specific combination of the several elements herein shown and described, nor am I limited to the specific construction of the several elements employed, nor the location of such elements, as various changes in and modifications of the construction herein shown and described may be made within'the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of my invention or sacrificing its advantages.

The distinctive feature of my invention resides in the use of the colors emanating or reflecting from an illuminating device of any kind or class and concentrating these color lights to a redetermined passing the same t rou h adjusta which are positioned eyond the normal focusing positions, whereby said le'nses, due to their chromatic aberration, separate the colors, and interrupting the colors so as to distribute the same in such manner that a picture projected ontov the screen will have a pleasing color efiect and will contain throughout the area thereof, variegated colors, and this result is accomplished without in any way, treating, destroying, or modifying the picture film.

path and le lenses 3 It will also be understood that the film may be located closer to the electric light bulb 13 than is shown in the accompanying 'drawing but by locating the film at a predetermined distance from the light in the manner shown and described, I avoid any ossibilities of destroying a picture or film y fire, which is another distinctive advantage in apparatus of this class and especially in the production of moving picture films.

Having fully describedmy invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The method of projecting the subjects of a osltive photographic film onto a screen in p easing color effects, which consists in ad usting projecting lenses relatively to and' in the path of light emanating from an illuminating source, in such manner and due to their chromatic aberration as to project contrasting color light rays from said il uminating source through said lenses, and placing a film in the path of the contrasting color light rays projecting fromsaid lenses whereby the sub ects on said film will be projected onto a screen in colors. v

2. The method of projecting the subjects of a positive photographic film onto a screen in pleasing color effects, which consists in adjusting projecting lenses relatively to and in the path of light emanating from an illuminating source, in such manner and due, to

their chromatic aberration as to project con trasting color light rays from said illuminating source through said lenses, placing a film in the path of the color light rays projecting from said lenses whereby the subjects on said film will be projected onto a screen in colors, and moving said color rays to distribute the same over said film.

3.- The herein described method of projecting photographic pictures onto a rcreen in colors which consists in utilizing the light rays emanating from an illuminating device, arranging lenses relatively to said device and in the path of light emanating therefrom, and in chromatic aberration to each other in such manner as to project said light rays from said lenses emanating from said illuminating device in a multiplicity of col ors, separating the color rays by the arrangement of lenses and directing said color rays projecting from said lenses onto a film whereby the subject matter-of the film will be projected onto ascreen in contrasting colors.

4. The herein described method of projecting photographic pictures onto a screen in colors which consists in utilizing the light rays emanating from an illuminating device, arranging lenses relatively to said device and in the path of light emanating therefrom and in chromatic aberration to each other in such manner as to project said light rays from said lenses emanating from said illuminatingdevice in a multiplicity of colors, separating the color rays by the arrangement of lenses and directing said color rays projecting from said lenses onto a film whereby the subject matter of the film will be projected onto a screen in contrasting colors, and intermittently interrupting the color light rays emanating from said device prior to their passage onto the film.

5. The herein described method of projecting photographic pictures onto a screen in colors which consists in utilizing the light rays emanating from an illuminating device, arranging lenses relatively to said deviceand in the path of light emanating therefrom and in chromatic aberration to each other in such manner-as to project said light rays from said lenses emanating from said illuminating device in a. multiplicity of colors, separating'the color rays by the arrangeinent of lenses and directing said color rays projecting from said lenses onto a film whereby the subject matter of the film will be projected onto a screen in contrasting colors, intermittently interrupting the color light rays emanating from said device prior to their passage onto the film, and concentrating the rays emanating from said device to a predetermined path prior to passing through said lenses.

6. The herein described method of projecting photographic pictures onto a screen in colors-which consists in utilizing the light rays emanating from an illuminating device,

arranging lenses relatively to said device and in the path of light emanating therefrom and in chromatic aberration to each other in such manner as to project saidlight rays from said lenses emanating from said illuminating device in a multiplicity of colors, separating the color rays by the arrangement of lenses and directing said color rays projecting from said lenses onto a. film whereby the subject matter of the film will be projected onto a screen in contrasting colors, intermittently interrupting the color light rays emanating from said device prior to their passage onto the film, concentrating the rays emanating from said device to a predetermined ath prior to passing through said lenses, and actuating the illuminating device to mingle the rays emanating therefrom.

7. The method of projecting color ra s which consists in concentrating .rays of ligiit emanating from a source of illumination to a predetermined path, positioning widely spaced and relatively adjustable lenses in said ray path, and adjusting said lenses with relation to said illuminating source and relatively to each other to project from said lenses due to their chromatic aberration, rays of light emanating from said source in contrasting colors.

8 The method of projecting color rays which consists in concentrating rays of light emanating-from a source of illumination to a predetermined path, ositioning widely spaced and relatively a justable' lenses in said ray path, adjustingsaid lenses with re lation to said illuminating source'and relatively to each other to project from said lenses due to their chromatic aberration, rays of light emanating from said source in contrasting colors, and intermittently interrupting the color rays projecting from said lenses. V

9. An apparatus for projecting unoolored pictures onto a screen in colors involving a projecting machine comprising an illuminating device emanating light rays, condensing lenses adjacent said device and in the path of light rays, other lenses outwardly of said condensing lenses and in said light ray path and adjustably arranged in chromatic aberration relation whereby the projection of rays therefrom from said illuminating device will be in contrasting colors, means for supporting a picture in the path of said con.- trasting color rays and pro ected from said lenses, and means disposed tween the condensing and last named lenses for concentra ting the rays emanating from said deviceto a predetermined path through said last named lenses 10. An apparatus for projecting uncolored pictures onto a screen in colors involving a projecting machine mmprising an illuminating device, emanating light rays, condensing lenses adjacent said device and in the path of light rays, other lenses outwardly of said condensing lenses and in said light ray path and adjustably arranged in chromatic aberration relation whereby the projection of rays therefrom from said illuminating device will be in contrasting colors, means for supporting a picture in the path of said contrasting color rays and projected from said lenses, means disposed between the condensing and last named lenses for concen trating the rays emanating from said device to a predetermined path through said last named lenses, and means interposed between said last named lenses and the icture supporting means and through whic said color rays pass for mingling and distributing the color rays prior to the projection of same onto a picture supported insaid means.

11. ,An apparatus for projecting uncolored pictures onto a screen in colors involving a projecting machine comprising an illuminating device, emanating light rays, condensing lenses adjacent said device and in. the path of light rays, other lenses outwardly of said condensing lenses and in said light ray path and adjustably arranged in chro matic aberration relation whereby the pro jection of rays therefrom from said iliuminating device will be in contrasting-colors, means forsupporting a picture in the path of said contrasting color rays and projected from said lenses, means disposed betweenthe condensing and last named lenses for concentrating the rays emanating from said device to a redetermined path through said last named enses, means interposed between said last named lenses and the picture supporting means and through which. said color rays pass for mingling anddistributing the co or rays prior to the projection of same onto a icture supported in said means, and means ibr agitating said illuminating device whereby the light rays emanating therefrom may, be itated prior to their passage through said projecting lenses.

12. An apparatus for projecting uncolored pictures onto a screen in colors involving a projecting machine comprising an illuminatmg device, emanating light rays, condensing lenses adjacent said device and in the path of light rays, other lenses outwardly of said condensing lenses and in said light ray path and adjustably arranged in chromatic aberration relation whereby the-projection of rays therefrom from said illuminating de-' vice will be in contrasting colors, means for supporting a picture in the path of said contrasting color rays and projected from said lenses, means disposed between the condensing and last named lenses for concentrating the rays emanating from said device to a redetermined path through said last name lenses, means interposed between said last named lenses and the picture supporting means and through which said color rays pass for mingling and distributing the color rays prior to the projection of same onto a picture supported in said means, means for agitating said illuminating device whereby the light rays emanating therefrom may be agitated prior to their passage through said projecting lenses, and projecting lenses outwardly 0 said picture supporting means for projecting the colored picture onto a screen.

13. In a projecting apparatus of the class described, the combination with an illuminating device supported in said apparatus and emanating a ray of light in the path of a pair of projecting lenses positioned in said ray path and adjustably supported in said ray path and arranged in chromatic aberration relation with each other whereby the rays of light from said device when passed through said lenses, will be projected in a. multiplicity of contrasting colors.

14. In a projecting apparatus of the class described, the combination with an illuminating device supported in said apparatus and emanating a ray of light in the path of a pair of projecting lenses positioned in said ray path and adjustably supported in said ray path and arranged in chromatic aberration relation'with each other whereby the rays of light from said device when passed through said lenses, will be projected in a multiplicity of contrasting colors, and means for agitating said device to agitate the light rays emanating therefrom.

15. 'In a projecting apparatus of the class described, the combination with an illuminating device supported in s'aid apparatus and emanating a ray of light in the pathof a pair of projecting lenses positioned in said ray path and adjustably supported in said my path and arranged in'chromatic aberration relation with each other whereby the rays of light from said device when passed through said lenses, will be projected in a multiplicity of contrasting colors, means for agitating said device to agitate the light rays emanating therefrom, condensing lenses disposed in the ray path between said device and projecting lenses, and means in said ray path outwardly of said condensing lenses for concentrating the rays emanating from said device to a predetermined path in the passage thereof through said projecting lenses.

16. In a projecting apparatus of the class described, the combination with an illuminating device supported in said apparatus and emanating a rayv of light in the path of a pair ofprojecting lenses positioned in said ray path and adjustably supported in said said device and projecting lenses, and means in said ray path outwardly of said condensing lenses for concentrating the rays emanating from said device to a predetermined path in the passage thereof through said projecting lenses, and other adjustable projecting lenses outwardly of and in spaced relation with reference to said first named projecting lenses.

17. In a projecting apparatus of the class described, the combination with an illuminating device supported in said apparatus and emanating a ray of light in the path of a pair of projectin lenses positioned in said ray path and ad ustably supported in said ray path and arranged in chromatic aberration relation with each other, whereby the rays of light from said device when passed through said lenses, will be projected in a multiplicity of contrasting colors, condensing lenses disposed in the raypath between said device and projecting lenses,

, means in said ray path outwardly of said condensing lenses for concentrating the rays emanating from said device to a predetermined path in the passage thereof through said projecting lenses, other adjustable projecting lenses outwardly of and in spaced relation with reference to said first named projecting lenses, and means for supporting a picture in the ray path and between said first and second named projecting lenses.

18. In a projecting apparatus of the class described, the combination with an illuminating device supported in said apparatus and emanating a ray of light in the path of a pair of projecting lenses positioned in said ray path and adjustably supported in said ray path and arranged in chromatic aberration relation with each other, whereby the rays of light from said device when passed through said lenses, will be projected in a. multiplicity'of contrasting colors, condensing lenses disposed in the ray path between said device and projecting lenses, means in said ray path outwardly of said condensing lenses for concentrating the rays emanating from said device to a predetermined path in the passage thereof through said projecting lenses, other adjustable projecting lenses outwardly of and in spaced rela tion with reference to said first named projecting lenses, means for supporting a icture in the ray path and between said rst and second named projecting lenses, and a rotatable interrupter supported and oper ating in the ray path and adapted to interfi mittently interrupt the projection of the ray. 19. In a projecting apparatus of the class described, the combination with an illuminating device supported in said apparatus and emanating a ray of light in the path of a pair of projecting lenses positioned in said 1': y path and adjustably supported in said ray path and arranged in chromatic aberration relation with each other whereby the rays of light from said device when passed through said lenses, will be projected in a multiplicity of contrasting colors, condensing lenses disposed in the ray path between said device and projecting lenses, means in said ray path outwardly of said condensing lenses for concentrating the rays emanating from said device to a predetermined path in the passage thereof through said projecting lenses, other adjustable projecting lenses outwardly of and in spaced relation with reference to said first named projecting lenses, means for supporting a picture in the ray path and between said first and second named projecting lenses,'a rotatable interrupter supportedand operating in the ray path and adapted to intermittently interrupt the projection of the ray, and an iris in t e path of said light rays.

-20. An apparatus for projecting the subjects of a positive photographic film onto a screen in varied colors comprising an illuminatinc device, projecting lenses in the path of light emanating from said device in spaced relation sutticientl greater than the sum of the focal length 0 said lenses, so that the passage of light rays therethrough from said device, will project from said lenses contrasting color rays, means for supporting a film in the path of the color ra s projected from said lenses, and means or imparting movement to said color rays for distributing the same over said film whereby the projection of the film onto the screen will result in the projection of a vari-colored image.

21. An apparatus for projecting the subjects of a positive photographic film onto a screen in varied colors comprising an illuminating device, projecting lenses in the path of light emanating from said device in spaced relation sufiiciently greater than the sum of the focal, length of said lenses, so that the passage of light rays theret-hrough from said device will project from said lenses, contrasting color rays, means for supporting a film in the path of the color rays projected from said lenses, and means for imparting movement to said color rays for distributing the same over said film whereby the projection of the film onto the screen will result in the projection of a varicolorcd image, said means involving a device for intermittently interrupting the color rziys prior to their transmission onto the 22. An apparatus for projecting the subjects of a positive photographic film onto a screen in varied colors comprising an illuminating device, projecting lenses in the path of light emanatin from said device, said lenses being space apart sufliciently greater than the sum of the focal length of said lenses, so that the passage of light rays no i therethrough from said device will project from said lenses, contrasting color rays, means for supporting a film in the path of the color rays projected from' said lenses, means for im arting movement to said color rays for distributing the same over said film whereby the projection of the film onto the screen will result in the projection of a varicolored image, said means involving a device for intermittently interru ting the color rays prior to their transmission onto the film,

and projecting lenses arranged in the path of light emanating from said illuminating device and projected through said lenses and film and outwardly of said film for focusing and projecting the subject of the film onto the screen.

7 In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed my name this 6th day of June, 1923.

WILLIAM L. ISBILLS. 

